Virginia inside linebacker Micah Kiser has been named to the preseason Butkus Award Watch List, an annual award given to the nation’s best linebacker.
Kiser have previously been named this summer to the 2016 Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch Lists.
Kiser (Jr., Baltimore, Md.) was a first-team All-ACC honoree after leading the league with 9.75 tackles per game as a sophomore. Kiser started all 12 games and along with Blanding became the nation’s only defensive duo to finish the year ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in tackles for their respective conferences.
Mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey of the award’s namesake Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, each watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Appearance on the watch list is not required to become a semifinalist.
Semifinalists will be named October 31, finalists November 21, and the winner will be notified on or before December 6. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which includes the 22 most prestigious awards in college football with 722 years of selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
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